Inching control operator for warpers



Sept. 11, 1956 R. w. ANDRES ETAL 2,752,107

INOHING CONTROL OPERATOR FOR WARPERS Filed July 15, -1954 4 Sheets-Sheet1 1N V EN TOR.

fczph IV. Andres TTORNE )f5 Sept. 11, 1956 R. w. ANDI'QES ET AL INCHINGCONTROL OPERATOR FOR WARPERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept' 11, 1956 I R. w.ANDRES ET AL 2,762,107

INCHING CONTROL OPERATOR FOR WARPERS Filed July 15, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet3 l ATTORNEYS Sept. 11, 1956 R. w. ANDRES ETAL 2,762,107

INCHING CONTROL OPERATOR FOR WARPERS 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed July 15,1954 INVENTOR. fzph PK Andres Fran/0m Townsend ATTORNB/.S'

INCHING CONTROL OPERATOR FOR WARPERS Ralph W. Andres and Franklin L.Townsend, Rockford, Ill., assignors to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford,Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 15, 1954, Serial No.443,462

9 Claims. (Cl. 28-39) This invention relates to machines for windingthreads such as warpers, in which the threads are wound on a beam. Thelatter may be turned by a drum in frictional driving engagement with thebeam periphery in which case the beam is mounted to move away from thedrum as the mass of yarn on the beam builds up. In a machine of thistype, a let-off mechanism may operate to hold the beam against the drumwith a predetermined pressure while still permitting the beam to moveaway from the drum as its diameter increases.

vThe general object of the invention is to provide in a warper of theabove character a new and improved mechanism which manually controls theturning of the beam so that the beam may be inched around when lookingfor the end of a broken thread and which, regardless of either the sizeor the position of the beam, is always accessible to the operator.

A more detailed object is to control the turning of the beam through apedal which is located under the outer edge of the beam and which movesoutwardly with the beam in response to the build-up of yarn on the beam.

Another object is to move the control pedal in response to theincreasing mass of yarn on the beam by utilizing movable parts of thelet-off mechanism to shift the pedal.

A further object is to shift the pedal through a connection whichautomatically is released when the beam reaches the full position sothat the pedal stops when the beam moves beyond the full position to thedolng position and does not interfere with the removal of a full beam.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a warper incorporating the novel controlmechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrates the positions of theparts when the beam is in the full position. s

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in Fig.4.

Fig. 4 is a plan view with parts broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the control mechanism.

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the releasableconnection.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention isembodied in a warper in which a plurality of warp threadsl are drawnfrom a Creel (not shown) and are wound on a horizontally disposed Warpbeam 11. The latter is supported between and journaled on the upper endsof two parallel generally upright arms 12 (Figs. l and 4) which arepivotally connected at their lower ends to a base 13 to swing about ahoriaten-t yto motor 16 mounted on the base turns the drum throughA abelt 17 (Fig. 4) and a clutch 18, which may be of the type disclosed inthe Colman Patent No. 2,207,051.

The drum 14 is disposed adjacent the arms 12 in contact with the mass 19of threads on the beam and, due to this peripheral driving engagement,the drum draws the threads from the creel at a constant rate. As thethreads build up on the beam, the arms swing away from the driving drumfrom the empty position at the left of the vertical as viewed in Fig. lacross the vertical to the full position as illustrated in Fig. 2; Thethreads from the creel are guided to the beam by a comb 20 which issupported between spaced parallel plates 2l. The later are pivotallyconnected to extensions 22 of the arms 12 and to the upper ends of links23 which parallel the arms and are pivoted at their lower ends to thebase, the arms, the links and the plates constituting a parallelogramlinkage whichr swings the comb back with the beam while maintaining thecomb horizontally disposed.

During winding of the beam 11, the latter is held in driving engagementwith the drum 14 by two elongated links 24 extending transversely of thebeam on opposite sides thereof and pivotally connected at one end to thearms 12 adjacent the beam axis. The links pull the beam toward the drum,the pulling force being derived from a cluster of contractile springs 25disposed on one side of the warper and acting through a forcemultiplying linkage 26. The latter includes a short arm'27 projectingdownwardly from a stub shaft 28 journaled on a bracket 29 on the base13, the lower free end of the arm being pivotally connected to the outerend of the link 24. The outer end of a horizontal arm 30 fast on thestub shaft is connected through a vertical link 31 to a shorterhorizontal arm 32 rigid with a shaft 33 which is journaled in spacedbrackets 34 and extends across the base where on the opposite side ofthe base it is connected to the other link 24 through corresponding arms27, 30 and 32 and a link 31. Depending from the shaft 33 is an arm 35whose lower end is anchored to one end of the cluster of springs 25 thuscompleting the connection between the springs and each of the links 24.With the foregoing arrangement, the springs 25 acting through thelinkage 26 urge the links 24 to the left as viewed in Fig. l and thisholds the beam 11 against the driving drum 14. If desired, the forceexerted by the springs may be modiiied as the beam builds up and, forthis purpose, a cam 36 is secured to the lower end of the parallelogramlink 23 to turn with the latter and varies the tension of the springsthrough a follower 37 journaled on one arm of a bell crank lever 38, theother arm of the lever being connected to the springs.

Preferably, the links 24 are extensible and are elongated as the yarnmass 19 builds up on the beam 11 so that the tension of the springs 25is varied only by the cam 36 and not by swingingof the arms 12. Thus,the links constitute a part of a let-oi mechanism which also includes ameans for extending the links inresponse to the increasing diameter ofthe yarn mass. Herein, the links are made extensible by forming eachfrom a screw 39 threaded into a nut 40 which is fast on the end of atube 41 telescoping with the screw. The screw is turned to extend thelink by a reversible motor 42 which is connected to each screw by a belt43 (Fig. 4), a clutch 44 and a chain 45 extending around a sprocketwheel 46 on the driven shaft of the clutch and a second sprocket wheel47 on the screw. The motor is operated con- 3. tinuously in thedirection to extend the links and the clutch 44 normally is disengagedbut is engaged periodically during the winding operation. When theclutch is disengaged, a brake 48 is engaged andY holds the-clutch shaftagainst turning. The clutch and the brake may be f the electromagnetictype and energized or deenergized by a switch 49. The latter is actuatedby the arm` 32 in the linkage 26 so that theV links V24 are extendedat arate correlated with the build-up of the yarn mass 19 on the beam 11.

When one of the threads V breaks, it is necessary for the operatorto'lind the broken end .on the beam 11 and tie this end to thecorresponling end from the -creel. Finding the end of the beam mayrequire turningthe beam, especially when the mass .19 becomes ratherlarge. For this purpose, a manually operated control element S0, whichherein is Yan elongated pedal, is disposed adjacent the beam where itmay be depressed by thev op-v erator and acts through the clutch 18 toinch the'beam around. Preferably, the pedal parallels the beam and isdisposed under the latter so that it may be depressed easily by theoperator whilepicking the broken thread end off the beam.

In order that the pedal 50 is accessible to the operator regardless ofthe size of the yarn mass 19 and the angular position of the arms 12,the present invention contemplates mounting the pedal in a novel mannertomoveV is shifted a short distance Aeach time `the screw 39 is turned.

As illustrated in the drawings (seeespecially Figs. 5

and 6), the pedal 50 may be a at bar secured to lat.

. moves the linkage 26 thus turning the arm 32 and closing the switch49. The latter `deenergizes the brake 48 and energizes the clutch 44 4sothat, through the clutch and the chains 45the screws 39 are turned. As aresult, the tubes 41 are moved forwardly carrying the pins 55 with them.Movement of the Vpins is transmitted through the blocksl to the levers62 which are swung about their fulcrums thereby 'shifting the links 64endwise. Such shifting rolls the shaft 53 forward moving the pedal 50out toward the outer edge of the beam.

. shaft-53 adjacent one end thereof and journaled in a bracket67 (Fig.'4) which isY supported on the shaft 53;l

The two shafts are connected by a finger 68 projectingrearwardly fromthe adjacent collar 52 and engaging the underside of a second finger 69that projects later- 'ally from the shaft 66. Thus, when the pedal 50.iside pressed,the shaft 53 is turned and this turns the shaft 66-through the ngers 68 and69.

AGenerally coaxial Vwith the shaft 66 is a square shaftfl which iscoupled to the former by a universal jomt 71.

' and slides through webs 72 (Fig. 3) on the base 13. The

erally projecting arms 51 on spaced collars 52. The

latter are fast on a shaft 53 whichthus turns when the pedal isdepressed. The shaft parallels the pedal and is supported at oppositeends by rollers 54 journaled on the shaft and rolling on the floor.Through the medium of the rollers, the shaft and the pedal are adaptedfor horizontal edgewise movement.

To move the shaft 53 and the pedal 50 in response vto elongation of thelinks 24, the shaft is connected tothe tubular parts 41 of the links sothat, as theseY parts are threaded outwardly on the screws. 39, theshaft and the pedal also are moved outwardly. In the presentV instance,the connection between eachV tube 41 and the shaft 53 includes a pin 55projecting through the spaced horizontal shaft 63 (Fig. 5). r The latterextends transversely across the warper and is journaled at opposite endson the stationary brackets 29. An elongated link 64, which in this caseis generally L-shaped for clearance purposes, is pivotally connected atone end tothe llower end of the lever 62 and at the other end to theshaft 53 thus completing the connection between onelink 24 and j one endof the shaft. As illustrated in Fig. 5, a duplicate linkage'connects thesecond link and the other endof the shaft. Y

With the foregoing arrangement, thedrum 14 drives the beam 11 and,as theyarn mass 19-increases in diameter, the links tend to be pulledforwardly. This movement, which is against the action of the springs 25,

square shaft constitutes one part of thesliding connection4 65 the otherpart of which is a cam 73 formed with a square hole 74 receiving theshaft 70 so that the latterA may slide axially relative to the cam butinany position, i it is operable .to turn the cam.

75 on the cam engages a follower roll 76 carried on the end of one arm77 of a bell crank lever 78 which is fulcrumed on an upright post 79.The other arm 80 of the. lever is coupled through a pin and slotconnection 81 to :the operator 82 of the clutch 1S. Thus, regardless ofthe position of the pedal 50, the latter is operable to en-` gage theclutch, this being effected throughthe shafts 53,

66 and 7 0, the sliding connection 65, the camand followerv 75Vand 76and the bell crank lever 7S. l After the beam 11 has been filled, heclutch y44 isen:

gaged independently of ythe switch 49 to turn thes'crews timeit isremoved from the arms.

nection between the links and the pedal is such that it is broken whenthe beam reaches the .full position. As a result, the pedal' moves onlyto the position shown in Fig.

2 and does not continue to move during dofng. Be. cause of this, thebeam as it is dotted swingsY clear of the.

pedal.

are utilized to form the releasable connection between Ythe.V links 24and the pedal 50.' For this purpose,.the` f length of the block is suchthat, when the parts reachV thev full beam position shown in Fig. 2, thepin engages the block adjacent the lower end thereof. movement of thetube 41 such as occurs during dotiing,

the pin passes under the block and, therefore, the cou;

nection is released so thatv the pedal does not move further. After thefull beam 11 has been doffed and an empty beam loaded on the arms 12,Vthe motor 42 is reversed to shorten the links 24 and to return the arms12 andtheengages an inclined surface 84 (Fig. 6) on theforward edge ofthe block 61 and this surface cams the pin back` against the action ofthe spring 59. When the pin passes An axially facing surface` In thepresentiustance, the pin 55 and the block 6I.'

UponV further This turns the clear of the block, it snaps back intooperative position and all the parts are ready for the nextwindingoperation.

It will be observed that, with a warper constructed as described above,the pedal 50 for manually controlling the clutch 18 always is disposednear the front of the beam regardless of the position or size of thelatter. Thus, at any stage in the winding operation, the pedal isaccessible to the operator as he stands in front of the beam and thepedal is, therefore, easily used to inch the beam around when lookingfor the end of a broken thread. Since a releasable connection is usedbetween the links 24 and the pedal, however, the pedal does not movewith the beam to the do'ing position and hence it does not interferewith the removal of the iilled beam.

We claim as our invention: l

l. In a warper, the combination of, a generally upright arm pivotallysupported at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis and adaptedto carry a warp beam, a clutch having a driven element, a frictiondriving drum connected to said element and engaging the periphery ofsaid beam to turn the same thereby to wind threads on the beam, meansholding said beam against said drum while permitting said arm to swingaway from the drum as the threads build up on the beam, a pedal disposedbeneath said beam, mechanism responsive to swinging of said arm to shiftsaid pedal laterally away from said drum to maintain a substantiallyconstant relation between the pedal and the beam, a rst part movablewhen said pedal is depressed, and a second part movable with said iirstpart and operable when moved to operate said clutch, said iirst partbeing shiftable with said pedal and relative to said second part whileremaining operatively connected to said second part.

2. In a warper, the combination of, a generally upright arm pivotallysupported at its lower end to turn about a horizontal axis and adaptedto carry a warp beam, a device operable when actuated to turn said beamand wind threads thereon, said arm swinging said beam about said axisduring such winding, a control element disposed adjacent said beam andmounted to move along a linear path in generally the same direction assaid arm swings, means operable to move said element with said armwhereby the relation of the element and the mass of threads on the beamremains substantially constant, and a connection between said device andsaid element to permit the element to actuate the device, saidconnection including parts slidable relative to each other duringmovement of said element while remaining in operative engagement witheach other.

3. In a warper, the combination of, a generally upright arm pivotallysupported at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis betweenfirst and second positions and adapted to carry a warp beam, a drivingdrum frictionally engaging said beam to turn .the beam and wind threadsthereon, mechanism operable to hold said beam against said drum whilepermitting said arm to swing out as the threads build up on the beam andincluding a part movable with the arm, a pedal disposed beneath saidbeam for outward movement away from said drum and operatively connectedto the drum to control the turning thereof, a movable member linked tosaid pedal, and opposed abutments supported respectively by said partand said member and engaging each other to move the member and hencesaid pedal in response to swinging of said arm, said abutments passingclear of each other when said arm is in said second position to permitthe arm to be turned beyond the second position without moving saidpedal and one of said abutments being yieldably supported to pass backaround the other when said arm is returned to said rst position.

4. In a warper, the combination of, a generally upright arm pivotallysupported at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis between rstand second positions and adapted to carry a warp beam, a driving drumfrictionally engaging said beam to turn the beam and windg Athreadsthereon, mechanismoperable to hold-said beam beam for outward movementaway from said drum .and v operatively connected to the drum to controlthe turning thereof, a movable member linked to said pedal, and

opposed abutments supported respectively bysaid partV and said memberand engaging each other to move the member and hence said pedal inresponse to swingingv of said arm, said abutments passingclear of eachother when said arm is in said second position to permit thev arm to beturned beyond the second position without` moving said pedal.

5. In a warper, the combination of, a generally upright arm adapted tocarry a Warp beam and pivotally supported at its lower end to swingabout a horizontal axis between rst and second positions, means forturning said beam to wind threads thereon, said arm swinging toward saidsecond position as the threads are Wound on said beam, a pedal disposedbeneath said-beam and supported for horizontal movement with said arm,means responsive to said pedal to control the turning of said beam, andmechanism operable to move said pedal outwardly with said arm tomaintain the pedal accessible during winding of the threads, saidmechanism including a connection releasable when said arm reaches saidsecond position thereby to permit the arm to be moved beyond the secondposition without further movement of the pedal. l

6. In a warper, the combination of, a generally upright arm pivotallysupported at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis and adaptedto carry a warp beam, a driving drum frictionally engaging the peripheryof said beam and operable to turn the beam to Wind threads thereon,mechanism operable to hold said beam against said drum while permittingsaid arm to swing as the threads build up on the beam, an elongatedpedal parallel to and disposed beneath said beam, rollers supportingsaid pedal for edgewise movement away from said drum, a member movablein response to outward swinging of said arm, a link connecting saidmember and said pedal and operable to roll the pedal outwardly as saidarm swings said beam away from said drum, and means connecting saidpedal and said drum to control the turning of the drum selectively inresponse to depressing the pedal.

7. In a warper, the combination of, a friction driving drum mounted toturn about a horizontal axis, a generally upright arm adapted to supporta warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and pivotallysupported at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis away fromsaid drum as threads are wound on said beam, an extensible linkconnected at one end to said arm, means yieldably acting on said link tourge said beam against said drum, mechanism operable to extend said linkas said arm swings away from said drum, a manually operable controlmember disposed beneath said beam and operatively connected to said drumto control the rotation of the latter, said member being mounted formovement away from said drum, and means responsive to the length of saidlink to move said member away from said drum as the thread builds up onsaid beam.

8. In a warper, the combination of, a base, a generally upright armpivotally connected at its lower end to said base to swing about ahorizontal axis and adapted to support a warp beam, a friction drivingdrum engaging the periphery of said beam to turn the same thereby towind threads on the beam, yieldable mechanism operating on said arm tohold said beam against said drum and having a part movable to permit thearm to swing away from the drum as the threads build up on the beam, apedal disposed beneath said beam and operatively connectedtofs'aidlgglrtimv `iJ'Jicontrol the rotation of t'hesame, and aconnection vbetween said pedal and said part operable to move the pedalaway from said drum with said beam inV response to movement of the partwhereby the pedal is accessible regardless of the position and size ofthe beam.

9. In a machine for Winding threads on a beam, the combination of,l abase, a generally upright arm supported at its lower end on said base toswing about a horizontal axis and adapted to carry a warp beam adjacentits upper end, mechanism for turning said beam to wind threads thereon,said arm swinging in a predetermined direction about said axis as thethreads build up on the beam, an elongated manually operable controlmemberk generally 8 Y paralleling said axis and disposed alongside saidbeam, a device operable bysaid member to activate said mechanism andthereby stop and start theturning of the beam,

means supporting said member independently of said armV and forgenerally horizontal edgewise movement, and a connection between saidmember and said arm operable to move the member with and in the samegeneral direction as the arm to maintain the member in an accessibleposition.

References Cited in the le of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 186,237Switzerland Dec. 16. 1936

